Annoying sparge

[Capn Ahab]

This happens prettty much every time I brew.

Basically, following re-circ of the mash, the first 10 l or so of the lautered wort goes into the kettle crystal clear and bright, but then about half way through bits of spent grain come through. Not loads, but enough to be annoying. It's like there's a plug of grain that builds up by the outlet of the mash tun,which after a pressure build up pops through into the kettle.

I think I might get some braided hose or some other sort of filter to sit under the false bottom, as whenever I empty the MT there is always untold gunk underneath it.

Anyone else experience this or have any suggestions?

[PMowdes]

I brought one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320893940440? ... 1439.l2649

it's essentially a small mesh filter, put it inline after my ball valve and nothing comes through at all.

[Capn Ahab]

That looks to me like it would clog easily.

[mrlard]

HERMS or RIMS

get on it :)

[PMowdes]

That looks to me like it would clog easily.

Not had a problem with mine, and it was only 10 quid delivered.

[Capn Ahab]

HERMS or RIMS

get on it :)

That's only happening if I move house to somewhere with a garage. And if I do that I'm switching to propane.

[Jeltz69]

Most importantly does it really matter if a few bits of grist get into the boil?

[steve crawshaw]

Lauter it through a sieve?

Lauter through mesh by Murray Jarvis, on Flickr

I find that I get a surge of grain coming through at the very end of the lauter.

I like phil's solution, it is more elegant than mine and may be better at combating the myth of hot side aeration than my approach...

[PMowdes]

Most importantly does it really matter if a few bits of grist get into the boil?

It don't matter at all, but if Mark is annoyed by it then it don't matter that it doesn't matter. It's still annoying.

[Jeltz69]

Most importantly does it really matter if a few bits of grist get into the boil?

It don't matter at all, but if Mark is annoyed by it then it don't matter that it doesn't matter. It's still annoying.

That's fine, so long as there isn't anything regarding taste or clarity.

If its a pet peeve then it depends on the MT. If there is a false bottom with a bottom drain a stainless a stainless steel pan scourer in in the inlet would catch most stuff, if its a copper manifold then replace with stainless steel over braid or just slide it over the copper as that stuff doesn't let anything through.

However that's likely to slow the draining rate which for me would be an annoyance.